500+ Retired Racehorses Helped by New Vocations in 2017

Anna Ford

The New Vocations Racehorse Adoption Program saw 398 Thoroughbred and Standardbred racehorses go through its program in 2017–a 10% increase compared to 2016. An additional 125 horses remained in the program throughout last year, and received rehabilitative care or transitional placement with the goal of placement in 2018. New Vocations received 976 applications from individuals interested in horse adoption. That number falls in line with past years.

“New Vocations' biggest accomplishment in 2017 was getting its Mereworth facility fully up and running, which played a major role in increasing the number of horses adopted,” said Program Director Anna Ford. “Receiving nearly 1,000 applications was great, but unfortunately it didn't translate into 1,000 adoptions. The majority of the equestrian world wants the perfect 'flawless' horse, and the number one reason a horse comes to us is because of an injury.”

Reiterating the difficulties in finding new homes for horses who have suffered past injuries, a release from New Vocations said, “The program will also focus on working diligently to refute the stigma associated with many common racing injuries and expanding its educational efforts to help encourage more informed adoptions. In March, New Vocations will announce a strategic incentive geared specifically to change the public's perception of retired racehorses, their past and what they can accomplish in the future. It's believed that this push in education, and the creation of additional incentive programs, will benefit not only the New Vocations program, but any organization that relies on educated adopters to home retired racehorses.”

For more information, visit www.horseadoption.com.

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